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Graduate Program in Chemistry

More information

Contact:
posqui@puc-rio.br
+55 21 3527-1334

Address:
Departamento de Química
Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225
Sala 772A
Gávea, Rio de Janeiro - RJ

Office hours:
8:00am to 11:30am and
2:00pm to 5:00pm


General Information

The Graduate Program in Chemistry at PUC-Rio (PPG-Qui) was created in 1969 with master’s course, and in 1971 gave the beginning to Doctorate course. Since its creation until 2015, the PPG-Qui has already formed 374 masters and 178 doctors. According to the last triennial evaluation (2010 – 2012) from CAPES, the program obtained 5 in a scale that goes to 7.

The PPG-Qui faculty is formed today by 18 permanent professors and 1 collaborator. This total, 68% were incorporated in the program in the last years, due to exchange for retirement and new vacancies creation. This process of transformation and amplification of the faculty staff derived from a Strengthening policy of the Chemistry Department implemented by University administration. The new faculty profile was thought to merge experienced teachers and new professionals and to strength the chemistry program’s acting in four great areas, incorporating the Organic and Physical – Chemistry to the already traditional areas of Analytical and Inorganic of the program. As reflecting the professionals mix in different phases of professional life, today the faculty is composed of 50% from CNPq productivity scholarship, thus  divided: 1A(1), 1B(1), 1C(1), 1D(3) and 2(4). Other 5 faculties who do not have CNPq scholarships were contracted in the last 3 years. In addition, recognizing the increasing inter and transdisciplinary action of chemistry, the faculty renovation included professionals who act interfaced with other area such as Geochemistry, oceanography, Biology, Engineering, medicine, among others.

Research at PPG-Qui developed through the collaboration and synergy with other universities and research centers in Rio de Janeiro as well as in several other states. The Program has always prioritized interaction with researchers and institutions abroad. The international insertion of PPO-Qui has been fostered by collaborative projects that ensure the international mobility of students and faculty members. On the other hand, one should highlight PPG-Qui’s strong interaction with the productive sector. This is done through the execution of a series of research and development projects, particularly with companies linked to the oil industry and the pharmaceutical industry.

The research infrastructure that PPG-Qui offers students includes functional laboratories and small, medium and large sized modern equipments that guarantee the training of students and the execution of dissertations and thesis within PUC-Rio. Collaborative projects and/or agreements with development agencies and collaboration with the productive sector guarantee resources for the acquisition and maintenance of equipment, as well as the hiring of technical personnel and related researches.

Objectives

The objective of PUC-Rio’s PPG-Qui is to form human resources at the Master's and Doctoral levels that are qualified and posses critical view in order to develop innovative and multidisciplinary scientific research in the Chemistry field and its multiple interfaces, attending to technical demands and the industry innovation, as well as to teach at the higher education level. The Program seeks the scientific, technical and cultural qualification of the student by putting him or her in contact with the theory and practice of modern preparatory and instrumental techniques in which, and is based on ethics and social and environmental responsibility.

As specific objectives, one can list:

History

In the early 1970s, the Graduate Program of the Chemistry Department(DQ) at PUC-Rio began in the field of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry under the coordination of Pe. Leopoldo Hainberger S.J., who was the founder of the DQ of PUC-Rio. There was a significant contribution from professors coming mainly from Germany, such as professor Erich Ludwing Minzl, who was responsible for the Advanced Analytical Chemistry discipline both in the theory and the experimental parts; professor Nobert Fritz Miekeley in the Radionalytic discipline, with professor Klaus Paul Wagener as a visitor, a radiosotopes specialist at the Center for Nuclear Research(KFA) in Juelich and Professor of Biophysics at the Technological University of Aachen, and with the Brazilian Professor Armi Wanderlei da Nobrega in the Electromagnetic Chemistry discipline.

In its beginning, PPG-QUI was strongly involved in Inorganic Analytical Chemistry due to the collaboration of professors coming mainly from Germany, focusing on the sub-areas of nuclear chemistry, spectroscopy and environmental chemistry. After that, other professors from different parts of the country and doctors qualified by the Program itself were included in the Program's faculty. The Program was a pioneer of its kind in Brazil and became a reference during the 1970s to the 1990s in several branches of analytical chemistry (inorganic and organic), environmental chemistry and oceanographic chemistry. In the 1980s and the 1990s the EANA (Atomic and Applied Nuclear Spectroscopy) group formed several analytical spectroscopists in Brazil. In the 2000s the group expanded with electronic molecular spectroanalytics. In the1980s the Master’s program offered an emphasis on Sea Chemistry, with resources form SECIRM (Secretariat for the Inter-ministerial Commission Secretary for Resources of the Sea). In 1987 the area of Inorganic Chemistry was implemented with the hiring of specialists in such a way as to have two or three professor in the area. At PUC was formed the pioneer group of bio-inorganic at Rio de Janeiro and the study of inorganic chemistry of petroleum, which helped the Department to achieve prominence on a regional and national scale.


Concentration areas and lines of research

In 2012, a profound reformulation was made in order to meet the new Chemistry Graduate Program guidelines established by CAPES. The Program then started to only have the concentration area in Chemistry, and four (4) lines of research were organized, as follows:

Concentration area: Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry

Research lines

  1. Development of Analytical Methods: optical methods, spectrometry, chromatography and electroanalytical.
  2. Chemical-Biological Drugs and Interactions: synthesis and characterization of bioactive compounds; Rational drug planning and drug quality control.
  3. Energy, Environment and Marine Sciences: catalysis; Characterization and quality control of fossil fuels and biofuels; Geochemistry and oil prospecting; Biogeochemistry and geochronology; Process, reaction mechanisms and modeling.
  4. Nanosciences: synthesis and characterization, simulation, magnetic nanovetors and molecular self-assembling.

Concentration Area: Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry

Lines of Research 1:
Catalysis, Reactions related to Petroleum and Environmental Catalysis

Preparation and characterization of zeolites and mesoporous for use as catalysts and their support. Evaluation of catalysts in model reactions. Studies of degradation of fuels or catalysts by metals. Characterization of fuels and catalysts. Development of catalysts for the elimination of pollutants. Study of reactivity of solids and surfaces.

Linked projects

  • Characterization of products, derivatives and catalysts of petroleum
  • Metallic catalysts supported in zeolites
  • Environmental Catalysis
  • Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous materials
  • Acid zeolites
Lines of Research 2: Development and application of methods

Modern analysis

Development of new electroanalytical, radiochemical and spectrometric (AA, ICP-AES, ICP-MS, etc.) and molecular (Spectrophotometry, Molecular Luminescence, Vibrational Spectroscopy) methods for application in the environment, medicine, industry, etc.

Linked projects

  • Development of new electroanalytical controlled potential methods for the determination of organic elements and compounds at trace levels present in the environment
  • Development and application of the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) technique with different sources of atomization
  • Chemical metrology
  • Optimization and application advanced of advanced analytical techniques in studies related to environment.
Lines of Research 3: Study of Environmental Processes - Methods and Applications

Development of new electroanalytical, radiochemical and spectrometric (AA, ICP-AES, ICP-MS, etc.) and molecular (Spectrophotometry, Molecular Luminescence, Vibrational Spectroscopy) methods for application in the environment, medicine, industry, etc.

Linked project

  • Evaluation of the environmental impacts of oil spills on fish from Guanabara Bay, RJ
  • Deposition, accumulation and transformation of carbon in tropical estuaries
  • Development of analytical methods for the purification, identification and quantification of organic compounds of petroleum for geochemical purposes
  • Study of the degradation of petroleum compounds in water and HPA's in atmospheric particulates by heterogeneous photocatalysis
  • Study of the decontamination of petroleum compounds in water by means of photochemical processes of heterogeneous photolysis using sunlight
  • Study on the presence and behavior of organotin compounds in coastal environments in the state of Rio de Janeiro, with an emphasis on Guanabara Bay
  • Methodology for environmental monitoring related to oil activity and use of bio-markers to evaluate biodegradation processes
  • The role of selenium in the accumulation and biomagnification of methylmercury along the food chain of Guanabara Bay
  • Occurrence some organic pollutants in the water, sediments and biota  of Guanabara bay
  • Use of biomarkers in the indication of contamination of the marine environment: petroleum hydrocarbons and TBT.
Lines of Research 4:
Structural and Functional Studies of Complexes of Biological and Industrial interest

Synthesis of complexes of biological and industrial interest. Determination of physico-chemical parameters, in the solid state and in solution. Use of several spectrophotometric techniques to characterize these complexes.

In these lines of research the following specific areas are included: Bioinorganic, Catalysis, Environmental Catalysis, Electroanalytical, Coordination Compounds Chemistry, Infrared and Raman Vibrational Spectrometry, Applied Nuclear and Atomic Spectrometry, Analytical Methods based on Molecular Luminecence, Organic and Inorganic Environmental Chemistry , Chemistry of the Sea.

The Graduate Program in Chemistry emphasizes the development of individual capacity both in laboratory research and in the theoretical field, in addition to complementing the technical and scientific training of the student.

Linked projects

  • Coordination compounds of biological interest
  • Study of the interference of metallic ions in the stability of petroleum products and establishment of special techniques in the analysis of petroleum.

Isolated Project

  • Support of infrastructure in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Chemical Metrology

Course Recognition

Master’s and Doctoral degrees

CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Eduction Personnel; from Brazilian Ministry of Education) evaluation: grade 5 (in a 3 to 7 scale) for the 2010-2012 period.
Approved by the CNE/CES MEC n.288/2015 of July 08, 2015.
Granted degrees: Master and/or Doctor in Chemistry


Requirements for obtaining the Master’s and Doctoral degrees

Master

  1. Obtain at least 24 credits, thus distributed :
    • 16 credits in compulsory disciplines of the Department, at the graduate level;
    • 8 credits in elective disciplines of the Department, at the graduate level, 03 these  credits may be obtained from other Departments, highlighting the possibilities foreseen in the Regulations of Master Programs and Doctoral Programs of PUC-Rio
  2. Be approved in the English language Exam (LET 3101, reading comprehension).
  3. Present, defend and be approved in the Master’s Dissertation (QUI 3000) and deliver to the Chemistry Department secretary the necessary exemplars of the definitive version.

Doctor

  1. Obtain a minimum of 47 credits , thus distributed:
    • 16 credits in compulsory disciplines of the Department, at the graduate level
    • 31 credits in elective disciplines (theoretical and practical) at the Graduate level with the advisor's approval. Up to 06 credits can be obtained in research disciplines conducted by the candidates under the advisor’s guidance. Six (6) credits can be obtained in disciplines from other Departments, at the graduate level.
  2. Be approved in two language exams, English, French or German. The language already tested in the Master’s course will be validated in the Doctoral course.
  3. Be approved in the Qualifying Exam (QUI 3004)
  4. Present, defend and be approved in the Doctoral thesis (QUI 3001) and deliver, to the Chemistry Department secretary the necessary exemplars of definitive version.


Admission and Enrollment

Master

Doctor